Predictors of Condom Use Among Patients With Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Uganda

• Published in: Sexually transmitted diseases Vol. 26; no. 9; pp. 491 - 495
• Main Authors: NUWAHA, FRED, FAXELID, ELISABETH, HÖJER, BENGT
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 01-10-1999; Lippincott; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Ovid Technologies
• Subjects: Adult; AIDS/HIV; Analysis of Variance; Biological and medical sciences; Condoms; Condoms - statistics & numerical data; Contact Tracing - methods; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cultural Characteristics; Female; General aspects; Health Surveys; HIV Infections - prevention & control; Human infectious diseases. Experimental studies and models; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Population; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Sexual behavior; Sexually transmitted diseases; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - prevention & control; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - transmission; Socioeconomic factors; STD; Studies; Tropical medicine; Uganda; Uganda; Africa; Human; Sexually transmitted disease; Condom; Statistical study; Public health; Prediction; Cross Sectional Analysis; Eastern Africa; Risk Reduction Behavior; Africa; Viral Diseases; Contraception; Infections; Barrier Methods; Hiv Infections; Family Planning; Research Methodology; English Speaking Africa; Diseases; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Reproductive Tract Infections; Contraceptive Methods; Research Report; Uganda; Developing Countries; Africa South Of The Sahara; Behavior; Sex Behavior; Sexual Partners
• ISSN: 0148-5717; 1537-4521
• DOI: 10.1097/00007435-199910000-00001

Background and Objective: Patients with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are at an increased risk of HIV infection and they must be targeted for increased condom use. Goal: To identify predictors of condom use among patients with STDs. Study Design: In a cross-sectional survey, an interview-administered questionnaire was administered to 138 patients at the STD clinic, Mulago, and the outpatients department, Mbarara Hospital, in Uganda. Data were collected on sociodemographic situations, STD symptoms, type of sexual partners, and use of condoms. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify independent predictors of condom use. Results: Of the 138 patients, 87 (66%) knew how to use condoms, 81 (59%) ever used a condom, 34 (25%) used a condom at least once in the previous 3 months, 20 (15%) used a condom during the last sexual intercourse, and 80 (58%) accepted a free supply of condoms. Reasons for not using condoms among the 57 who had never were: having a regular partner or spouse (28, 49%), partner does not approve (17, 30%), reduced sexual pleasure (5, 9%), and no answer (7, 12%). The independent predictors of condom use were: being a man, not having a regular partner, having had sex with a casual partner, being able to read English, having at least secondary education, and using electricity for lighting. Conclusion: Providing health promotion messages in local languages may improve condom use in this population. There is a need for complementary HIV prevention strategies for women and for regular sexual partnerships.